Unitarian Universalist News
This page contains news items from the Unitarian Universalist Association and from the Pacific Southwest District of the UUA.
From The PSWD: Mark Your Calendar. The 2008 District Assembly will be held April 25-27 in Del Mar, CA..
From The UUA: Mark Your Calendar. The 2008 General Assembly will be held June 25-29 in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
Oldies/Goodies. General Assembly '07, in Portland, OR, marked the 30th anniversary of the "Women and Religion" resolution, which recognized continuing gender inequity and committed the UUA to recognizing and addressing the issues that affect full equality for women. This GA also marked the 10th anniversary of the "Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities" resolution, and the 10th anniversary of the "Toward an Anti-Racist Unitarian Universalist Association" resolution. Like the one 30 years ago, both of these resolutions recognize the many ways in which our communities continue to perpetuate privilege and inequity, and calls for us to respond.
Immigrant Rights Rally. A rally in front of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Headquarters in Portland during this year's G.A. called for an end to the ICE raids. The rally featured President William Sinkford and was attended by many GA delegates. Read 500 Protest 'La Migra' Raid in Portland at www.themilitant.com/2007/7127/712705.html .
Available Now. Copies of the 2007 General Assembly Statement of Conscience, "Moral Values for a Pluralistic Society," are now available on the front desk in the church office, where you'll also find copies of the 6 Actions of Immediate Witness adopted by G.A. 2007. To learn more, visit www.uua.org/csw. For materials on "Peacemaking," the current Congregational Study/Action Issue (CSAI), go to http://www25.uua.org/csw/issues_pm.htm .
Looking for UU Peacebuilders. The UUA's Washington Office for Advocacy, in relationship with the Peacemaking Congregational Study Action Issue Core Team, is looking for volunteers who are interested in enriching and elevating the UUA's organizing and activism for peace, focusing first on organizing around an October 8th day of interfaith fasting, witness, and advocacy against the war. If this interests you please contact Alex Winnett at awinnett@uua.org or (202) 296- 4672 ext. 20.
As Promised. Here are the six Responsive Resolutions passed by General Assembly '07:
- Health Care for UUA Ministers, Staff and Families
- Confronting Gender Identity Discrimination
- Voting Rights for Communities of Color
- Truth, Repair, and Reconciliation
- End the U.S. Occupation of Iraq
- Engaging in Right Relations at GA 2008
You will hear more about the UUA's responses to these in the months to come.
Washington Office Celebrates. The UUA's Washington Office for Advocacy celebrated a victory when the House of Representatives on August 1st voted in favor of reauthorizing the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). The new bill, titled "Children's Health and Medicare Protection Act of 2007," includes language that would give states the option of expanding Medicaid coverage for family planning services up to the level at which pregnancy-related services are covered. [Our own Greater Long Beach Interfaith Community Organization (ICO) also played a role in getting this measure passed.] The bill may even be
veto-proof!
The House bill also includes a reauthorization of the Title V abstinence-only program that includes provisions for medical accuracy, effectiveness, and state flexibility. For the first time, states would be able to use federal funding to deliver medically accurate, comprehensive sexuality education - a huge step for Congress to take.
* MORE INFORMATION about these and other features of the PSWD
and the UUA can be found on the Denomination bulletin board,
from your ADR (Association/District Representative) Sandra Kroll,
or at these websites:www.uua.org, www.pswd.uua.org and www.uucamp.org.
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